The programme ”Snack Mindfully. Enjoy the Moment.” transforms teenagers' eating habits

In a hectic, fast-paced world, healthy eating is becoming increasingly important. In this context, the project ”Snack Mindfully. Enjoy the Moment.” transforms teenagers’ eating habits, giving them tools for healthier and more conscious choices.

Since its launch in 2020, the project has grown exponentially, reaching its fourth edition, which runs from September 2023 to June 2024, in partnership with high schools in Bucharest and across the country. The programme is run by the Romanian Sută la Sută Association and is organised in partnership with the National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC), school inspectorates from 9 counties and Bucharest, the Centre for Management Research (CCM) of the National School of Political and Administrative Studies (SNSPA) and supported by Mondelēz International, a global leader in snacking.

“The National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC) enthusiastically welcomes and supports the ‘Snack Mindfully‘ project for nutrition education and the promotion of a balanced diet. We strongly believe that this programme has a significant impact on consumer awareness of food choices and the importance of reading product labels. We want to educate children and teenagers to read the label, to understand that the writing on the packaging of a food product – perhaps seemingly uninteresting – contains information that they may later find useful when purchasing that product. We believe that an informed consumer is a consumer who is better prepared to make healthy food choices and to protect their health,” said Horia Constantinescu, President of the National Authority for Consumer Protection.

The programme aims to empower teenagers and provide concrete ways to take action for lasting behavioural change. Thus, it reshapes snacking habits and general approach to eating, introducing mindfulness practices. Shaped as a successful public-private partnership, this programme has become a model of a responsible, transformative and comprehensive project, contributing to improving the health of teenagers in Romania.

“This project teaches young people to make conscious choices but also to have the courage to make them, to learn to make food decisions here and now, to build a healthy relationship with how they meet their food needs. The project ‘Snack Mindfully. Enjoy the moment’ meets teenagers in a supportive, understanding and empathetic way and has become a reliable partner for those curious and eager to understand how they can take control of their eating habits, how they can develop them to become healthier, but also how they contribute to a better emotional state,” said Ana-Maria Ștefan, ISMB School Inspector for extracurricular activities.

“Snack Mindfully. Enjoy the Moment.” takes a multidisciplinary approach, offering teenagers an integrated course with interconnected modules covering psychology, organization and planning, nutrition, mindfulness, movement, civic education and self-awareness. Through these modules, young people gain essential skills to improve their eating habits and take responsibility for their health.

For her part, Lidia Feher, the project coordinator, stressed that “One of the key aspects of this project is its innovative approach. We don’t stop at simply passing on information but enter into dialogue with teenagers, running mini-campaigns in schools, building long-term relationships and providing them with answers to everyday challenges and questions. In this way, we have the opportunity to influence meaningful and sustainable changes in nutrition behaviour. The positive feedback and growing demand from schools has led us to expand the capacity of the programme by more than 20% compared to the original plan, and this year around 15,000 high school students from 55 high schools across the country and Bucharest will participate.”

The nutritionists, psychologists and mindful snacking mentors involved in this project work closely together to ensure the impact of the messages and to connect authentically with teenagers. In addition, the presence of special guests such as artists adds to the appeal of the programme, creating an authentic connection with young people.

The team of specialists of the project consists of Lidia Feher, project coordinator, Lidia Bădilă, regional coordinator of the program, Dana Dobrescu, Corporate & Government Affairs Manager Romania, Mondelēz International and mentor in the field of Mindful snacking, Florentina Baloș-Cioropină, ambassador of the project on behalf of the Association Sută la Sută Românesc, ANPC inspectors, Dr. Laura Davidescu, doctor with expertise in Nutrition and Food Safety, Mădălina Preda, Professional Organizer | Chronic Disorganization Specialist® CVOP™️ | Time Management and Productivity Specialist | Speaker, Iulia Avădănii, psychologist, personal development for young people, Anca Ghinea, creator, Cornel Mihalache, mentor trainer, Cosmin Natanticu and Jean Gavril, guest stars, Liviana Tane, writer, editor, creative writing consultant.

The Management Research Centre (MRC) team of the National School of Political and Administrative Studies (SNSPA), led by Prof. univ. dr. habil. Elena – Mădălina Vătămănescu, will develop the research tool for the project “Snack Mindfully. Enjoy the Moment“. The team is coordinated by Prof. Andreea Mitan, Executive Director of the CCM, PhD in both Communication Sciences and Management, together with Dr. Elena Dinu and Drd. Victor-Emanuel Ciuciuc, with expertise in marketing, branding and CSR.

During the three previous editions, more than 15,000 teens and 617 teachers from 30 high schools in various regions of the country, such as Bucharest and the counties of Sibiu, Alba, Brasov, Iasi, Cluj and Mures, participated in workshops and online meetings.

Due to the results, the project was presented as a case study for the Europe region in Mondelez’s global sustainability report, published in May 2023.

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